Phuket beach vendor arrested for encroachment

PHUKET: A Phuket vendor caught encroaching on public land at Bang Tao Beach was arrested Saturday afternoon.

“Jakkrit Dechana, 28, was arrested with three wooden tables and 10 chairs,” said Col Bancha Panpradap, an officer with the Region 5 Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED).

Mr Jakkrit told police he was only in charge of taking care of the furniture and was not the owner. Nonetheless, he was taken to Cherng Talay Police Station for further processing.

The bust was a joint effort by the NED, Cherng Talay Police, Cherng Talay Administration Organization (OrBorTor) and the Royal Thai Navy.

“We seized an additional 58 chairs, 31 umbrellas and three tables. However, no one came to claim them,” Col Bancha said. “Our aim is to enforce the beach management policy of the province. Unscheduled checks on beaches and making arrests like this one are steps in the right direction.”

— Winai Sarot